In December 2022, the Executive Director of SRADev Nigeria, Dr Leslie Adogame was contracted by the EU to provide technical support to NESREA in the development of the Draft National Environmental (Plastic Waste Control) Regulations 2023. This action contributes towards enforcing/addressing plastic waste pollution challenge across all major sectors of Nigerian economy.

Specifically, the objective is to provide technical support/assistance to NESREA in drafting and gazetting the National Environmental (Plastic Waste Control) Regulation 2023. The Regulation is to enable NESREA carry out its monitoring and regulatory functions about plastic control in Nigeria as stated in the National Policy on Plastic Waste Management 2020.

The project underwent a multi-faceted process to achieve its objective. One of the most critical phases involved stakeholder engagement. Consultative meetings with stakeholders were held in 4 states (Lagos, Anambra, Ogun and Edo) and the FCT. Stakeholders consulted comprised of policy makers (federal and state ministries, department and agencies), producers, Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs), developmental bodies, waste pickers, recyclers, trade unions and civil societies. The meetings held from 16th February – 24th March 2023. In these meetings, specific data gathering tools like focus group discussion and key informant interviews were deployed to assess information from stakeholders.

Images from the plastic control workshop

The project succeeded in fostering multistakeholder collaborations comprising government entities, industry leaders, and environmental organizations towards addressing plastic waste comprehensively. This created a network of stakeholders to draft a regulatory framework that is both enforceable and implementable.

Meeting with AgDissemination Workshop for the Plastic Control Projectofure/Oluku Waste Pickers

Regional and State-based stakeholders’ review of the Zero Draft document was held across 34 states on the 27th July, 2023. The review was coordinated by NESREA state offices across the six (6) geopolitical zones of the Federation. This resulted in inputs being gathered from a wider group of stakeholders across 34 states and regional offices of NESREA. The outcome of the regional/state review produced the first draft Regulations for the technical expert meeting review. On the 29th of August 2023, the final stakeholders’ review meeting for project dissemination was held at Bolton White Hotel, Abuja. Read more on environnews and nannews.

Pictures from the Technical Expert Stakeholders’ review meeting and the Stakeholders’ Validation Workshop